Plan B

A while back I talked about two plans that required courage. One worked out, and as it turns out, the second one didn't. I applied for a job I didn't get. This happens. It stinks, but it happens.

In the "door closing/window opening" department we now have another interesting possibility. Remember Thomas and Rachel, the prematurely born children of my brother and his wife? Thomas is hale and hearty and two years old. The anniversary of Rachel's birth and death is almost upon us. I knit quite a few things for them; it's what I do. And besides, knitting for premature babies takes about two seconds. They are so VERY tiny.

When Thomas was born, I talked with one of the social workers at the hospital (Harvard, as it happens -and which turns out to be relevant) where he was born and asked if they wanted copies of the patterns I had developed. They could sell the booklet, give it out to frantic relatives who need something to do, use it for charity knitting.... I didn't really ccare.

One thing led to another, and it seems that this could actually be a book. I've hemmed and hawed. Are my patterns different enough from other patterns out there to be sure -really, really sure- that they aren't essentially someone else's design? I don't think of myself as a designer. MAYBE I'm a writer. Certainly I'm a teacher. It's not entirely a failure of self-esteem that's happening here. I don't want to write something -to go to all that trouble in an already crowded life- if I don't feel like I'm making a meaningful contribution.

But what about this? Say 10 patterns designed for preemies. 10 accompanying essays about knitting -that I somehow finesse to go with the patterns. (That part requires more than a little hand-waving.) And 10 accompanying pictures or drawings -maybe of Thomas? And the title could reference Thomas and Rachel. Life, death, knitting, saving the world... all in one little book. Now, THAT is a contribution that would be uniquely mine and possibly useful as well.

Questions? Comments? Thoughts?